Oxford - The Harry Potter Tour with Amy, Jon & Gary

 Oxford - The Harry Potter Tour 

Our Harry Potter fans were giddy with very excitement to be visiting the world-famous Warner Bros Studio: the making of Harry Potter. As we entered there was an enormous Norbert the dragon who was suspended from the ceiling above us, we got a group picture underneath the mighty dragon before we started our tour. We entered the first room and took a seat in front of a huge cinema screen and watched a short film about how the books went on to be a global phenomenon. The screen then rolled up to reveal the huge doors that gave us entry to Hogwarts and the rest of the Harry Potter universe. 

We put our own magic to the test, making the broomstick rise up on command. Everyone was delighted with their wizardry. Feeling brave we then entered the Forbidden Forest. There were huge spiders falling from the ceiling, making us jump, but we made it out alive! 

The Weasley car hat Ron drives was so lifelike. 

Our next destination was on the famous Platform 9 & 3/4 where the magnificent Hogwarts Express was waiting. We all had a picture at trying to push the luggage trolley through the wall just like in the film. 

Stopping for a light lunch and of course trying the famous Butter Beer which went down a treat. 

Outside we discovered the impressive Knight Bus which led us to 4 Privet Drive, home of the Dursley family. Professor Sprouts Greenhouse was fabulous, and we managed to get some photos of the group pulling up a mandrake root which screamed at us until we let it go back in its pot. Gringotts Bank was next, admiring all the marble décor whilst passing under the baleful glares of the Goblins behind their desks. We walked up Diagon Alley with its cobble stone pathways to check out all the magical shops where Harry and his friends bought their wizardly wares. 

The final stop of the day was at the huge model of Hogwarts Castle of witchcraft and wizardry and its grounds which were stunning. We visited the souvenir shop where we bought everything from books, jumpers, and sweets to take home.

It was off to the city of Oxford to explore its architecture and magnificent gothic buildings. We met our tour guide Tim, who shared his wealth of knowledge on the collages and surrounding tourist hot spots. The Sheldonian Theatre is the principal assembly room of the University, and all public ceremonies are performed here. On our walk we stopped and looked through some huge iron gates into a beautiful garden where it is believed that this is where Lewis Carroll may have got her inspiration to write the story of Alice in Wonderland. There was even a small door on the back of the property, exactly like the one Alice goes through. As we stood in front of the Bodleian Old Library, Tim told our group a few facts about the library being the one place in the world to hold 13 million books and that no one is allowed to borrow any book not even the King! Our tour then finished at the Divinity School, which was built between 1424 and 1483 and one of the oldest surviving purpose-built rooms in Oxford University. A medieval building which is also an iconic building in the famous films as the Hogwarts Infirmary and where the wizards learnt to dance for the ball. Also several episodes of Inspector Morse were shot here. 

Our tour continued exploring the popular covered market, this opened in 1774 and is still full of unique stalls and shops. Everyone admired all the amazing, themed cakes in the window some of them being characters from Harry Potter.

We visited the nearby village of Great Missenden, former home of the world-famous children’s author Roald Dahl and now home to his museum. We spent the morning learning all about the great man himself and the inspiration for his stories as we wondered from room to room with themes all centred around some best-known stories. We also sat in on story time listening to his version of ‘The Three Little Pigs’ and ‘Little Red Riding Hood’. 

It was down to the bowling alley for a few friendly games. It was great fun, and everyone played well but Ceri was the overall winner with a whopping 105 points!